If your passion is embroidery, you probably won't dotoo well with car parts sites. Stick with what you knowat first and, once you learn how to promote on the#Internet, move on to different products.

2. CHECK IT OUT

Don't just jump in because it's easy. Ask yourself thisquestion; is the product or service you are affiliatingwith something you would bring to your best friend? Ifnot, you may want to keep looking.

3. TALK TO CURRENT AFFILIATES

Ask for a list of happy affiliates. Ask them some keyquestions such as did they get the help and supportpromised? Are they being paid on time? You get theidea.

4. THINK LONG TERM

If your first arrangement doesn't pan out, don't giveup. Many people on the net are making excellent incomeswith affiliate programs. You can too.

5. GO FOR QUALITY

Make a checklist of everything you want, find two whomeet the criteria, and go all out with those two.Remember that it will be your reputation on the line.

6. HOW WELL DO THEY SELL?

You need to ask how well the product or service youwill be promoting 'converts'. Conversion is simply thenumber of people per 100 who buy something.

For example, at the Directory of Ezines they convert 8 ofevery 100 visitors to buyers. They know this because theydo the hard work of analyzing there traffic and sales,and have for 10 years now.

This is the hard work that affiliates never have to do,which is why being an affiliate is so much fun! Youmake the money but don't have to do the copy writing orfigure out conversions or any of the back-office stuff.

For most established products you will promote you canexpect this number to range from .5% to about 10%.Anything higher or lower and you need to be carefulabout them telling you the truth.

Also, be aware that 'hot' products convert well whilethey are hot but conversion drops with time. So be sureto get *current* conversion figures.

7. WHAT IS THE COOKIE DURATION?

Most affiliate programs track using 'cookies' that areset on the visitor's machine. You need to know how longthis cookie lasts and if it can be overwritten.

The reason this is important is that it will change howyou market.If a company has a short cookie duration then you wantto focus on ads that make the sale now. If they have along duration you can use other methods (like banners)that are more passive.

You also want to know if the cookie can be overwritten.

If it can, then someone who first learned about productX from you, but clicks another link to buy, will notearn you the commission you deserve.

Neither of these factors are good or bad (Amazon has anincredibly short cookie but people still make fortunes

8. DO YOU EARN 'BACKEND' COMMISSIONS?

This means do you get paid when someone you refer buysa second product? This is vitally important. Peopleoften buy two, three or more products from one site.You should earn commissions for every product they buy.

9. DO YOU EARN RENEWAL COMMISSIONS?

If you send someone to a site where they pay a monthlyor quarterly fee, do you get paid every time or justonce? You should get paid every time.

10. DO THEY SUPPORT YOU?Most people don't know, or have the time, to write adsand create banners or graphics. You should expect theprogram you join to provide these tools as well as sometraining on how to sell their products.

Affilaite Checklist

About the Author:

Am BILL ACHOLA WRIGHT and I write Business Reviews programs to help online users to purchase the right program and to be full time and part time successful entrepreneur.Currently am in the Internet marketing industry,where by i have developed the TOP BUSINESS MONEY MAKING PROGRAMS.

Affiliate marketing is one of the best ways to make money online these days. Unfortunately, that is no secret. Thousands of folks are working extra hard to make a living online in this industry. But sometimes you don't have to work harder to set yourself apart from others - you have to work smarter.